Tampa Bay Restaurant Guide; Where To Eat From Coffee To Cocktails

Got a craving for some good food while you are in Tampa Bay? You are in luck because the Tampa Bay restaurant scene offers something for everyone. From award-winning James Beard Chefs to casual modern day Diners and late night cocktail bars. You won’t go hungry for good food while you are in Tampa Bay, I guarantee it. There was one place in particular that I visited each day of my stay. If you guessed it was a coffee shop you are almost right. I did find a great coffee shop but I discovered it towards the end of my stay. No, the place I kept going back to was a doughnut shop that served some of the best I have ever had. Thank God I don’t live in Tampa Bay, I’d be 400 lbs in time at all.

Datz2616 S MacDill Ave – Want to eat at a place that has been on Good Morning America? This is it. Come early or be prepared to wait as this hot spot will get busy. I came for Brunch and could barely walk out after I was done. I started with the Funnel Fries & Caramel dipping sauce. OMG!

The main artery-busting dish is the one that put them on the Map. The Cheesy Todd is a hamburger that has two Bacon Jalapeno Macaroni & Cheese fried patties as buns. For fries, there are potato chips drizzled with a sour cream crema and green onions. You can’t eat this the traditional way. It is a knife and fork burger.

Right next door to Datz is Dough. This is where they bake all the desserts etc… for Datz and the best place to get a doughnut in Tampa Bay. I should have taken a photo of the varieties I tried, but I couldn’t wait to eat them so no photos. BTW, they are massive!

edison:food+drink lab912 W Kennedy Blvd – You never know what’s on the menu at Chef Pierola’s Tampa Bay restaurant. This 4x James Beard semi-finalist excels at reinterpreting everyday dishes and transforming them into modern culinary masterpieces. For example, take the Korean Fried Chicken & Waffles. A southern classic with a twist of Kimchi in the waffles and a spicy sweet Gochujang Syrup. A Sugar Crusted Butter Cake is divine for desert and as for cocktails, put yourself in the hands of the mixologist. He made me a “few” Smoking Gun cocktails. Elevated everyday dining at it’s best.

Ulele1810 N Highland Ave – Along Tampa’s reinvigorated Riverwalk is Ulele. Housed in an original water plant building this restaurant is the perfect place for a fun casual evening with great food and friends. The ingredients are local, the beer is brewed in-house and the Oysters are charbroiled right in front of your eyes at the Barbacoa Grill. Check out the size of the Crackling Pork Shank I had for dinner. Only slightly smaller in size is the Candied Bacon & Maple Ice Cream. Some seriously good east to be found here, and it is right on the river.

Fodder & Shine5910 N Florida Ave – Craving southern fare? Look to Fodder & Shine to satisfy your craving. This is a place the locals eat at and I can certainly see why. Great cocktails, an appie platter of housemade spreads (I chose Pimento & Cucumber Benedictine) and their take on a southern dish called Pilau. It’s pronounced per-loo and includes a rice cake, fried egg, sauteed shrimp and tomato gravy. It’s all kinds of awesome.

Sono Cafe120 W Gasparilla Plaza – Whether you visit the Tampa Museum of Art or not you will want to lunch at Sono Cafe. It’s right on the river and has an amazing view of the Riverwalk and of course, people watching. I highly recommend their coffee and the Baked Ham with Aged Cheddar sandwich. It is grilled to golden goodness.

Oxford Exchange420 W Kennedy Blvd – It is a boutique, a coffee and a Tampa Bay restaurant. Oxford Exchange is that and so much more. It’s a great space to be inside of. I only had the opportunity to have breakfast here and it was fantastic. Called the Oxford Scramble they don’t skimp on the ham cheddar or spinach. Grab a coffee to go here as well. Totally on point!

Caffeine212 E Cass St – Need that shot of caffeine to get your day started? Aptly named Caffeine will deliver it with a smile. This small local coffee shop is located downtown walking distance to the Tampa Museum of Art and the Riverwalk. This is where I got my coffee every day after I discovered them.

While not exhaustive, this Tampa Bay restaurant guide should give you plenty of options for where to eat when you visit this Gulf Coast city. I can’t wait to come back and explore more of the culinary scene that I know is there. I may need more than 4 days though…

About Author

Marc Smith is a former event planner turned vagabond adventurer. He loves strong Americano's, great wine, cold beer and zip lining over tree tops.
Formerly of Vancouver, most of Marc's time when not travelling is in Canada's largest city, Toronto. Follow along on his nomad adventures and discover places to stay, things to do and where to eat & drink as he explores the world one city and region at a time.